Candid Glen pulls 84-1 shocker in Explosive Bid

NEW ORLEANS - Last season Candid Glen lost to a filly and horses with names like Chauffe Au Rouge and Rare Cure. But on Sunday at Fair Grounds, where he had won only once in eight starts, Candid Glen ran the race of his life and scored a neck victory over Rouvres in the .

Candid Glen finished tenth in the Grade 2 Explosive Bid two years ago and fifth last year, his only two graded stakes starts. This time he finished the job as an 84-1 shot, paying $170.20 to win, the biggest price in the race's history. He outlasted Rouvres, who finished a nose in front of Freefourinternet, with Seinne another nose back in fourth. Candid Glen ran about one and one-eighth miles on firm turf in 1:51.15.

It was a landmark win for Candid Glen's connections, owner Dr. Glen Warren, trainer Andy Leggio and jockey E.J. Perrodin. The trio campaigned the popular Louisiana-bred Sarah Lane's Oates on this circuit during the 1990s, but none had won a race of this importance.

"I told people I was going to win it this year," said Leggio, a popular figure here. "I thought they were better horses last year, and he was going to win that race in another sixteenth of a mile."

What happened to Candid Glen last season has happened to him many times: Candid Glen fell too far behind a moderate early pace and had too much to do in the stretch. So last month, in the Connally Breeders' Cup at Sam Houston, Candid Glen's people changed tactics. Perrodin put Candid Glen into the race much earlier, and he came from fourth to win the Connally for the third straight season.

The same strategy worked Sunday. Perrodin went straight to the rail and raced in fifth place down the backstretch as Della Francesca, pursued by Century City and Requete, ran a quarter-mile in 24.07 seconds and a half in 48.42. Rouvres, the 6-5 favorite, had a perfect spot just behind the leaders under Jerry Bailey. The action commenced on the far turn, as Mystery Giver looped up wide to make a bid for the lead, Rouvres angled off the rail for his run, Seinne began rolling from the back of the pack and Freefourinternet got involved on the rail.

One by one they flattened out, while between them Candid Glen continued on resolutely. Candid Glen took the lead at about the eighth pole, but Freefourinternet briefly headed him less than a furlong from the wire before giving way in the final yards. Bailey said Rouvres had no excuse, but didn't quite punch in the way he expected.

Not so Candid Glen."He made the lead, they came to him, and he ran again," Perrodin said. "He's a tough guy."